The mother of a man who died outside his friend’s house Jan. 7 after a Kansas City Chiefs game is speaking out about his devastating loss — and how it’s affecting his 4-year-old daughter.
Ricky Johnson was found dead outside Jordan Willis’ home on January 9, as were their friends David Harrington and Clayton McGeeney. The causes of their deaths have not been announced.
Johnson’s mother, Norma Chester, tells PEOPLE that she was celebrating her 66th birthday when she learned her son had died. Since then, she has been taking care of the four-year-old she was caring for at the time of Johnson’s death.
“So she was happy to go home and see her dad,” says the 66-year-old from Lebanon, Mo.
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Johnson was the only person who didn’t address his mom on her birthday. The night before, Johnson’s father texted Chester and mentioned that he had “not heard from” their son.
The next evening, Chester says she texted the mother of one of his children and “asked if she had heard from him.” She said “no” but started “calling” for an answer.
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“That’s how we all found out about it,” Chester tells PEOPLE. She says it took about “a day or so” before they were sure Johnson was dead because the men were found outside Willis’ home.
“He didn’t deserve this,” Johnson’s mother adds.
Johnson planned to see his youngest daughter the weekend after her mother’s birthday, “which made her very, very happy,” Chester says. Now she is dealing with his death.
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“She always says, ‘Grandma, I miss my dad,'” Mom explains. “Then they’ll see something on TV [and say] ‘Here’s my dad.’ And that’s so heartbreaking.”
Johnson “loved spending time” with his three “beautiful” daughters, according to his mom. “He would do anything for his girls,” she adds.
The father of three was also a loving brother, uncle and friend. Chester says she misses “his smile and his hug” the most, adding: “You knew he loved you when he hugged you, and he had the most beautiful smile.”
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Johnson was also a fan of “every sport imaginable.” “It wasn’t just Chiefs football,” his mom says. “It was every sport.”
Johnson’s family is among those seeking answers after three bodies were found in Willis’ home. Johnson’s brother, Jonathan Price, said, “The facts don’t add up,” in a separate interview with PEOPLE.
John Picerno, who represents Willis, previously told PEOPLE in a statement that his client is “not aware of how his friends died” and is “anxiously awaiting the results of the autopsy and toxicology report.”
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